The West Broadway Neighborhood Association (WBNA) will be hosting their Annual West End Lights, a winter block party on Saturday, February 22. Taking place on West Fountain Street between Battey and Whittaker streets, the mid-winter tradition is free to attend and brings together a host of neighborhood vendors. Roast s’mores, enjoy live music, dig into delicious food and drinks from local favorites, and learn more about what the WBNA is all about – a cozy warming tent lounge encourages neighbors to meet and mingle. All are welcome to attend this lively event, which takes place 4-7pm. For more details, visit WBNA.org.
The Downtown Providence Park Network, in collaboration with the Downtown Improvement District, presents the return of Lumina – this year with the theme of play! From February 1-17, the interactive outdoor spectacle transforms the city into an illuminated playground with captivating installations, dynamic performances, and cultural experiences, embodying the joy of play. Following the success of the 2024 festival, Lumina brightens the dark days of winter and draws thousands of attendees to see the Creative Capital in a new light.
Highlights include three interactive installations: the glowing monoliths of POP! Harmony Lanes, which combines movement, music, and special effects with stationary bike that visitors can pedal; and the larger-than-life glowing instruments and sounds of Harmonies. A Providence Tourism grant also enables talented Rhode Island artists Cristin Searles, Linsey Wallace, Bláithín Haddad, Saberah Malik, Max Van Lorimer, Jessica Ricci, and Tiffiniy Cheng to contribute light-based installations. Ice-skating, cultural, dance, and other performances will also take place, as well as free, inclusive, and family-friendly programming. The festival is made possible by the support of Commerce RI, Mayor Smiley, and the Rhode Island Foundation. Learn more at DowntownParks.org.
If you have walked along Benefit Street from one end to the other, you have probably noticed that many of the sidewalks are impassable. In fact, a recent survey found that over 1,400 feet of the sidewalk surfaces are poor or worse for pedestrian passage. The large gap in the sidewalk on the west side of Benefit Street near the Cady Street intersection exemplifies the situation. The Mile of History Association (MoHA) currently has a project underway to make the entire length of Benefit Street accessible to pedestrians, especially for the more than 300,000 visitors that walk the street every year, and to ensure they comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). In collaboration with MoHA, the City of Providence is applying for funds from the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank to get started.
Summit Neighborhood Association’s (SNA) Snow Brigade helps elderly and disabled neighbors who have difficulty clearing their walks and driveways, and who cannot easily pay for a service. The brigade has an urgent need for additional volunteer shovelers to lend a hand this season. Shovelers work in teams, trading off two-week shifts, ensuring nobody has to commit for the entire winter. Those interested can email SNASnow@gmail.com for more information and to sign up. For neighbors seeking other ways to get involved, the SNA typically holds its monthly meetings at 7pm on the third Monday of the month, unless otherwise posted, at the Miriam Hospital and on Zoom, with updates posted on social media. Meetings are open to the public and everyone is welcome to attend. The link can be requested by emailing SNAProv@gmail.com.
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